capt_framer
Grumbler in Training
My experience in framing has spanned three shops and began in 1993, giving me over a decade of experience.
The listings here (and in other forums) primarily consist of shop owners and/or employers, and they often have complaints about their employees. I am here to offer the other side of the coin: "tales," if you will. I must begin by saying that I love the framing: it is creative, always different, poses new problems to solve, and I get to see into lives of people by what they wish to have framed for their memories.
However, there are downsides:
It is difficult, if not impossible, to earn a true living as an employee. The only ones who can live from this business are suppliers, shop owners, and large, regional-type stores. I fully grasp the difficulties of running the shop: my experience has been with sole-proprietorships and small partnerships. The finances of a luxury business are crunching -- that is reality. My reality is also that as a human, I need to pay for food, clothing, and shelter. Experience (personal and what I have seen on these boards) shows employers want to look down on the workers as something "less-than", something subhuman because they didn't have capital outlay (or the desire) to start a framing business. The cycle begins: treat people poorly, get poor treatment and less than 100% effort and loyalty in return. So, employee #15 is out the door, and in comes #16, who is already being treated as suspect and subhuman. What do you expect from them at that point? There is an old adage "The fish rots from the head."
Sour grapes? Maybe, but years of experience have brought me to this less-than-pretty reality. I have been told by many followers that I do excellent work -- I have stringent standards. But, unfortunately, good work doesn't earn someone good treatment. Even if it did, good treatment doesn't put gas in the car.
This is not to cool the hopes of someone with an interest to seek employment as a framer, it is just to let them know how hard it can be. It is a tough economy; unless you have very thick skin and are already financially independent, find a more profitable line of work. (Or make it a hobby.)
Best wishes for you in the galleries.
The listings here (and in other forums) primarily consist of shop owners and/or employers, and they often have complaints about their employees. I am here to offer the other side of the coin: "tales," if you will. I must begin by saying that I love the framing: it is creative, always different, poses new problems to solve, and I get to see into lives of people by what they wish to have framed for their memories.
However, there are downsides:
It is difficult, if not impossible, to earn a true living as an employee. The only ones who can live from this business are suppliers, shop owners, and large, regional-type stores. I fully grasp the difficulties of running the shop: my experience has been with sole-proprietorships and small partnerships. The finances of a luxury business are crunching -- that is reality. My reality is also that as a human, I need to pay for food, clothing, and shelter. Experience (personal and what I have seen on these boards) shows employers want to look down on the workers as something "less-than", something subhuman because they didn't have capital outlay (or the desire) to start a framing business. The cycle begins: treat people poorly, get poor treatment and less than 100% effort and loyalty in return. So, employee #15 is out the door, and in comes #16, who is already being treated as suspect and subhuman. What do you expect from them at that point? There is an old adage "The fish rots from the head."
Sour grapes? Maybe, but years of experience have brought me to this less-than-pretty reality. I have been told by many followers that I do excellent work -- I have stringent standards. But, unfortunately, good work doesn't earn someone good treatment. Even if it did, good treatment doesn't put gas in the car.
This is not to cool the hopes of someone with an interest to seek employment as a framer, it is just to let them know how hard it can be. It is a tough economy; unless you have very thick skin and are already financially independent, find a more profitable line of work. (Or make it a hobby.)
Best wishes for you in the galleries.